Continuous stop rail anchor



Feb. 2, 1965 M. K. RUPPERT 3,168,245

CONTINUOUS STOP RAIL ANCHOR Filed Feb. 7, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MAX K. RUPPERT Feb. 2, 1965 M. K. RUPPERT CONTINUOUS STOP RAIL. ANCHOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1962 JNVENTOR PUPPERT MAX K.

Feb. 2, 1965 M. K. RUPPERT 3,168,245

CONTINUOUS STOP RAIL ANCHOR Filed Feb. 7, 1962 3 SheetsSheet 3 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

FIG? MAX K,UPPERT United States Patent Ofifice 33%8345 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,168,245 CONTINUGUS S'IGI RAH. ANCHOR Max K. Ruppert, Chicago, Ilh, assignor to Poor & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 171,679 2 Ciaims. (Cl. 238-327) This invention relates to rail anchors applied to the base flanges of railway rails to engage the tie and prevent creeping of the rails.

One of the objects is to provide a rail anchor made of stock of substantially T-shaped cross section with a continuous overdrive stop shoulder as distinguished from a divided or double shoulder as shown in my former Patents 2,7l7,740, 2,719,008, and 2,771,670. In these patents the divided stop shoulder is formed of metal displaced in the breakdown die from the lateral edge or flange portions only of the head portion of the T-shaped stock.

This was done in the belief that pressure applied to the marginal or flange portions only of the head of the T would be the preferable area where metal could be displaced to make the spaced or divided shoulders without disturbing the flow pattern of metal in the stern. However, practical experience and recent tests of rail anchors have shown that, by providing a continuous shoulder, the heated metal, as it is subjected to pressure during the first stage of bending in the breakdown die to partially form the hook, can also advantageously be pushed from the entire transverse surface of the head of the bar, including a portion of the stem, to impart greater strength between the hook or clamping jaw and the platform. This can be accomplished Without sacrificing any of the advantages of the divided overdrive stop of the Ruppert patents referred to, While, at the same time, maintaining greater uniformity in the flow pattern throughout both the stem and flanges of the stock. In other Words, the flow lines in the metal of the flanges and stem of the stock are uniformly compressed entirely across the stock to give maximum homogeneity while the unbroken longitudinal flow pattern is preserved.

A further object of the invention is to form the stop shoulder in a manner to reduce the possibility of potential stress raisers at any point between the platform and the hook.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of parts of an improved rail anchor, as hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the parts of the breakdown die-illustrating the partially formed T-shaped anchor stock in the lower portion of said die and having the continuous shoulder formed in the T-stock.

FIGURE 2 is a detail perspective view of the upper half of the breakdown die illustrating the portion thereof which cooperates with the lower half of the die to form the continuous shoulder in the T-stock.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the lower and upper halves of the breakdown die after forming the continuous stop shoulder in the T-stock, such stock later being again bent to form a finished rail anchor.

FIGURE 4 is a detail perspective view of an article of manufacture, namely a finished rail anchor having a continuous stop shoulder.

FIGURE 5 is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating how the unfinished anchor of FIGURE 3 is inverted in the finishing press just prior to the descent of upper die.

FIGURE 6 is a view on the order of FIGURE 5 with the upper die in closed position.

FIGURE 7 is a detail perspective view of the die block of the finishing press showing how the continuous shoulder is maintained and completed during the final pressing operation.

The desirability of providing a continuous stop shoulder to prevent over-stressing the clamp jaw has long been recognized as shown, for example, in Warr Patents 1,559,- 589; 1,918,305, and 2,171,819. Nevertheless, in these patents the stock heretofore used was rectangular and anchors made thereunder were found to be weak Where the hook joined the platform due to the fact that metal was displaced both from the bottom as well as the top of the anchor stock, that is from the opposite side faces, with the result that the flow lines of the entire cross-section were abruptly and materially displaced from two opposite points. In other words, the alined offsets in the stock placed two weak spots together in the location of critical bending forces between the base of the anchor and the hook. Experimentation with various types of metallurgical compositions of the stock did not prove to be the answer.

After many continuous years of close observation of the performance of anchors in track and research, as Well as experiments with bar stock of various cross sections, as shown for example by prior rail anchor patents, the T-section type of .bar stock afforded greater promise of providing better results, and practical experience has shown this to be true. In using this type of stock for a rail anchor, the head of the T provides the platform for engaging the base of the rail, and the jaw or hook for-med 05 at one end included a rigidifying rib formed by the stem.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the bottom half of the breakdown die, designated generally as D, is provided with a central slotted portion D for snugly receiving the stem 1 of the partially formed T- shaped anchor stock A so that the metal in the stem between the flanges of the platform will be adequately supported when the metal of the platform is partially bent in the breakdown die. This die is also formed with the flat faces D at either side of the slot to support the lateral flanges 22 of the anchor stock so that when the upper die E descends to complete the first stage of forming the shoulder, the uninterrupted die cavity E will have made its counterpart of the continuous shoulder S on the anchor stock.

The cavity E (FIG. 2) is slightly inclined or tapered laterally outwardly from the center so as to provide the desired flow of the metal forming the overdrive stop under bending pressure, and thereby facilitating movement of the metal in the overdrive stop to its original flat position after the final forming operation.

When the stock has been bent to form the continuous shoulder S, as shown in FIG. 1, it is placed upside-down in the finishing press P on the die designated generally as F (FIGS. 5 and 6) so that the partially formed continuous shoulder rests in the continuous horizontal transverse groove 10 on the anvil portion 11 of said die.

As the arm G pivotally carried by the upper portion of the finishing die moves into the arcuate cavity of the lower die, the hook or anchor of the jaw is fully formed, as shown in FIGURE 6, to complete the continuous shoulder S.

The finishing press is only briefly described here because, except for minor details, not here involved, it is fully shown in the patent to Schneider, 2,206,307, dated July 2, 1940.

From FIGURE 7, it will be seen that the shoulder cavity in the die anvil 11 is uninterrupted from edge to edge to assure cooperation with the cavity E of die D (FIG. 2) to permit the heated metal to flow evenly and uniformly from the flanges and adjacent positions of the stern, between the platform and the hook, to provide the minimum disturbance of metal flow. The continuous stop shoulder is formed between two arcs which avoid the possibility of abrupt change in metal flow in the highly stressed portion of the anchor where the stern joins the flange. This is of special importance because, as the hook is opened up by the wedging force due to driving the anchor on the rail, the metal at the junction of the hook and platform, takes the brunt of the resultant concentration of stress.

From the standpoint of manufacture, the continuous overdrive stop lends itself to a smooth design with less chance of concentration of working stresses in the anchor while the die performance in the presses is greatly improved and the possibility of forming laps in the anchor is materially reduced.

The physical shape of the finished rail anchor is clearly shown in FIGURE 4. This anchor'is shown in its horizontal in-use position and it is denoted in the claims as an article of manufacture.

The finished article is T-shaped in cross section for its complete length, the T-shape being made up of a stem 1 with flat side faces and oppositely disposed flanges 22, with horizontal coplanar upper faces which together constitute, in use, a single horizontal platform, for engaging the base of a rail.

One end of the body (the left of FIGURE 4) has a vertically upstanding locking shoulder to accommodate a vertical edge surface of a rail base.

The other end of the body (the right of FIGURE 4) has a rebent continuation forming a hook. This hook, in use, acts as an upper jaw, and it is cooperable with the right end portion of the horizontal platform to grip respectively the top and bottom surface of one flange of a rail base.

As previously mentioned the anchor is installed by be ing driven on a rail. Installation forces are applied horizontally in FIGURE 4 on the upwardly curving portion of the stem 1, and thus, as priorly pointed out, the metal at the bend takes the brunt of such forces, and receives from the top and bottom surfaces of one flange of a said base, the maximum reaction forces.

This above physical description is similar to that in the above acknowledged patent to Ruppert 2,717,740; but the physical description herebelow is specific only to the structure of this application.

Within the hook at the junction of the platform and the hook there is located an integral single stop shoulder. This shoulder is transversely. continuous. The shoulder includes a first vertically upstanding planar front wall facing the open end of this hook, and a second planar wall slantingly intersecting the first wall by an obtuse angle. The intersection of the two walls present a straight horizontal ridge facing the open end of the hook.

On each side of said shoulder there are smooth concave valleys each of which merge with one of the plane faces of the shoulder.

All vertical cross sections of the shoulder above described are identical from edge to edge of the flanges.

This physical shape presents an inner bend surface of the flange which has a minimal of abrupt changes and therefore it is betterable to resist the installing and working forces than the prior known structures including my Patent 2,717,740. The better ability to resist such forces is evidenced by practical tests showing longer effective life before replacement, as compared to acknowledged prior art.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a rail anchor comprising, in combination, a body of 'T-shape cr0ss-sectional stock providing a shank and oppositely disposed flanges constituting a platform for engaging the base of the rail, a hook including a continuation of said shank and flanges, and a single continuous overdrive stop shoulder including metal displaced from both said shank and flanges within the hook at the junction of the platform and the hook, said stop shoulder having an integral medial vertically upstanding first planar wall portion and a second slightly upwardly inclined planar top wall obtusely intersecting the first planar wall, both walls extending from edge to edge of the platform and facing the open end of the hook, said obtuse angled shoulder bounded smoothly on opposite sides by vertically disposed transversely continuous arcuate valley portions respectively facing the upper surface of the platform and the open end of the book.

2. As an article of manufacture, a rail anchor of rolled and bent metal comprising in combination,

(1) a body of T-shape cross sectional stock providing a stern having a flat vertical face, large areas of which in use abut against a vertical face of an adjacent cross tie,

(2) the body also providing oppositely disposed flanges with coplanar upper faces constituting in use a horizontal platform for engaging the base of a rail,

(3) a bent hook forming a continuation at one end of said body to provide in use an upper jaw, cooperable with a portion of the horizontal platform therebelow for gripping the top and bottom surface of one flange of a rail base, the stem at the bend providing a locus for installation forces,

(4) a single transversely continuous overdrive-stopshoulder within the hook at the junction of the platform and hook, said shoulder in use contacting one vertical edge surface of the rail base.

(5) said stop shoulder being integral with the flanges and delineated by a first vertically upstanding planar wall, and an obtusely intersecting slightly upstandingly sloping second planar wall, the walls extend- I ing from edge to edge of the platform and presenting a straight horizontal ridge facing the open end of the hook,

(6) said shoulder bounded on opposite sides by transversely continuous and smoothly merging valley portions of similar configuration throughout their lengths,

(7) whereby to provide an inner bend surface of the flange which has a minimal of abrupt changes, resulting in lesser concentration of inztalling and working stresses, thus contributing to a longer wear life of the rail anchor,

(8) and an upstanding locking shoulder at the opposite end of the body from said hook, to accommodate the opposite vertical edge surface of a rail base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LEO QUACKENBUSH, Primary Examiner.

JAMES S. SHANK, Examiner. 

2. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE, A RAIL ANCHOR OF ROLLED AND BENT METAL COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (1) A BODY OF T-SHAPE CROSS SECTIONAL STOCK PROVIDING A STEM HAVING A FLAT VERTICAL FACE, LARGE AREAS OF WHICH IN USE ABUT AGAINST A VERTICAL FACE OF AN ADJACENT CROSS TIE, (2) THE BODY ALSO PROVIDING OPPOSITELY DISPOSED FLANGES WITH COPLANAR UPPER FACES CONSTITUTING IN USE A HORIZONTAL PLATFORM FOR ENGAGING THE BASE OF A RAIL, (3) A BENT HOOK FORMING A CONTINUATION AT ONE END OF SAID BODY TO PROVIDE IN USE AN UPPER JAW, COOPERABLE WITH A PORTION OF THE HORIZONTAL PLATFORM THEREBELOW FOR GRIPPING THE TOP AND BOTTOM SURFACE OF ONE FLANGE OF A RAIL BASE, THE STEM AT THE BEND PROVIDING A LOCUS FOR INSTALLATION FORCES, (4) A SINGLE TRANSVERSELY CONTINUOUS OVERDRIVE-STOPSHOUDLER WITHIN THE HOOK AT THE JUNCTION OF THE PLATFORM AND HOOK, SAID SHOULDER IN USE CONTACTING ONE VERTICAL EGDE SURFACE OF THE RAIL BASE. (5) SAID STOP SHOULDER BEING INTEGRAL WITH THE FLANGES AND DELINEATED BY A FIRST VERTICALLY UPSTANDING PLANAR WALL, AND AN OBTUSELY INTERSECTION SLIGHTLY UPSTANDINGLY SLOPING SECOND PLANAR WALL, THE WALLS EXTENDING FROM EDGE OF EDGE OF THE PLATFORM AND PRESENTING A STRAIGHT HORIZONTAL RIDGE FACING THE OPEN END OF THE HOOK, (6) SAID SHOULDER BOUNDED ON OPPOSITE SIDES BY TRANSVERSELY CONTINUOUS AND SMOOTHLY MERTING VALLEY PORTIONS OF SIMILAR CONFIGURATION THROUGHOUT THEIR LENGTHS, (7) WHEREBY TO PROVIDE AN INNER BEND SURFACE OF THE FLANGE WHICH HAS A MINIMAL OF ABRUPT CHANGES, RESULTING IN LESSER CONCENTRATION OF INSTALLING AND WORKING STRESSES, THUS CONTRIBUTING TO A LONGER WEAR LIFE OF THE RAIL ANCHOR, (8) AND AN UPSTANDING LOCKING SHOULDER AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE BODY FROM SAID HOOK, TO ACCOMMODATE THE OPPOSITE VERTICAL EDGE SURFACE OF A RAIL BASE. 